The South African Senior Science and Technology representative in
Europe, Dr Mandi Mzimba, called on Irish researchers to develop
linkages with their South African counterparts. She was speaking
at a workshop in Dublin today (21 March 2006) hosted by the Irish
Universities Association. The event was organised in partnership with
ESASTAP - the European South African Science and Technology Advancement
Programme. The workshop, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, aims to make important
research connections by availing of the European Commission's Framework
Programmes.
ESASTAP is a Specific Support Action, implemented by the South
African Department of Science and Technology and funded by the European
Commission under the Sixth Framework programme to facilitate networking
between European and South African scientists.
Welcoming the South African delegation in his opening address, Paraig
Hennessy, Head of Science Policy and International Research Programmes
in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said that, "Irish
Researchers have always been very successful participants in EU
Framework Programmes. I have no doubt that once they are made aware of
collaboration opportunities they could be relied on to use Framework
funding to establish long lasting and fruitful linkages with
researchers in South Africa."
Presentations were made on the research landscapes in South Africa and
Ireland with a focus on Food Safety and Quality, Biotechnology, IST and
Energy which are national priorities for both countries.
Irish researchers from a variety of academic institutions including
TCD, UCD, UCC, NUIG, DIAS, RCSI and DIT also had the opportunity for
one to one meetings with the South African NCP's to discuss specific
collaborative ideas.
The Irish Universities Association (IUA) provides a national support
service for industry and academia in preparing and submitting proposals
to the FP6 programme. Speaking at the event, Siobhan Harkin, Research
Officer at IUA said, "There are great opportunities over the next seven
years of FP7 for Irish and South African research to form strong links
in areas of common interest. The IUA will work closely with ESASTAP to
this end."
Significant opportunities will exist for research organisations in the
Marie Curie Programme in FP7 and the IUA will strongly support
potential applicants in industry, universities and institutes of
technology to build on the success of FP6. The IUA looks forward to
working with South Africa to establish strong research links.
MMcS201
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